In its brief, OPC called the PSC decision a lopsided and unjust order “heavily skewed to favor FPL to the detriment of customers.” Residential customers will be on the hook for an additional $50 million annually, while industrial customers (less than 1% of FPL’s customer base) get a break. The Court’s ruling primarily dealt with the procedure by which the deal was approved, rather than the substance of the settlement. While a PSC rate case considers many complex issues; one wonders: why would the PSC would approve an FPL-backed deal that shifts a larger portion of the rate hike to Florida’s families?
The major duties of the PSC related to electric utilities is to set customer rates, determine the need for power plants, and set conservation goals for the states power companies. PSC commissioners are appointed for 4-year terms by the governor from a list of names provided by the Florida Legislature. Two seats will be filled this year by Governor Scott.
FPL, the state’s largest monopoly utility, wields enormous influence in the State Capitol having spent $4.7 million on lobbyists in an 8 year period and contributed more than $800,000 to the campaign of Governor Rick Scott.
George Cavros
This blog was written by a former staff member of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.
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